Particle separating and measuring device and particle separating and measuring apparatus

Abstract

A particle separating and measuring device includes a first flow path device having a post-separation flow outlet to allow discharge of a first fluid containing target particles to be separated, and a second flow path device receiving the first flow path device and having a first flow inlet to receive the first fluid. The first flow path device having a lower surface having the post-separation flow outlet is on the second flow path device having an upper surface having the first flow inlet in a first region, with the post-separation flow outlet facing and connecting to the first flow inlet. A connection flow path vertically extends from an opening of the first flow inlet to a first flow path, and narrows from the opening of the first flow inlet toward the first flow path.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A particle separating and measuring device, comprising:
 a first flow path device that is plate-shaped, and including
 a pre-separation flow inlet configured to receive a fluid containing target particles to be separated, 
 a main flow path connected to the pre-separation flow inlet, 
 a plurality of branch flow paths connected to the main flow path, and 
 a post-separation flow outlet configured to discharge a first fluid containing the target particles after being separated; and 
 
 a second flow path device that is plate-shaped, and including
 a first region configured to receive the first flow path device, 
 a second region configured to measure the target particles, 
 a first flow inlet configured to receive the first fluid, 
 a second flow inlet configured to receive a second fluid free from the target particles, 
 a first flow path located in the second region and connected to the first flow inlet to allow a flow of the first fluid, and 
 a second flow path located in the second region and connected to the second flow inlet to allow a flow of the second fluid; 
 
 wherein a lower surface of the first flow path device includes the post-separation flow outlet, and an upper surface of the second flow path device includes the first flow inlet in the first region, and the post-separation flow outlet faces and connects to the first flow inlet, and 
 wherein the second flow path device has a connection flow path vertically extending from an opening of the first flow inlet to the first flow path, and the connection flow path having an inclined inner wall narrows from the opening of the first flow inlet toward the first flow path. 
 
     
     
       2. The particle separating and measuring device according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the first flow inlet is larger than an opening of the post-separation flow outlet. 
     
     
       3. The particle separating and measuring device according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the first flow inlet is circular, and the connection flow path has a circular cross section. 
     
     
       4. The particle separating and measuring device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first flow path device is on the second flow path device with a sheet member therebetween, and 
 a through-hole in the sheet member connects the post-separation flow outlet and the first flow inlet. 
 
     
     
       5. The particle separating and measuring device according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the through-hole narrows from the post-separation flow outlet toward the first flow inlet. 
 
     
     
       6. The particle separating and measuring device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second flow path device includes a width-increasing portion having a flow path width increasing downstream along the flow of the first fluid from a joint between the connection flow path and the first flow path. 
     
     
       7. The particle separating and measuring device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the opening of the first flow inlet connects to an opening of the post-separation flow outlet at the upper surface of the second flow path device, and 
 a diameter of the opening of the first flow inlet is larger than a diameter of the opening of the post-separation flow outlet. 
 
     
     
       8. A particle separating and measuring apparatus, comprising:
 a particle separating and measuring device including:
 a first flow path device that is plate-shaped, and including
 a pre-separation flow inlet configured to receive a fluid containing target particles to be separated, 
 a main flow path connected to the pre-separation flow inlet, 
 a plurality of branch flow paths connected to the main flow path, and 
 a post-separation flow outlet configured to discharge a first fluid containing the target particles after being separated; and 
 
 a second flow path device that is plate-shaped, and including
 a first region configured to receive the first flow path device, 
 a second region configured to measure the target particles, 
 a first flow inlet configured to receive the first fluid, 
 a second flow inlet configured to receive a second fluid free from the target particles, 
 a first flow path located in the second region and connected to the first flow inlet to allow a flow of the first fluid, and 
 a second flow path located in the second region and connected to the second flow inlet to allow a flow of the second fluid; 
 
 wherein a lower surface of the first flow path device includes the post-separation flow outlet, and an upper surface of the second flow path device includes the first flow inlet in the first region, and the post-separation flow outlet faces and connects to the first flow inlet, and 
 wherein the second flow path device has a connection flow path vertically extending from an opening of the first flow inlet to the first flow path, and the connection flow path having an inclined inner wall narrows from the opening of the first flow inlet toward the first flow path; 
 
 an optical sensor configured to emit light toward the first flow path and the second flow path in the particle separating and measuring device, and receive light passing through the first flow path and the second flow path; and 
 a controller configured to measure the target particles by comparing an intensity of the light passing through the first flow path and received by the optical sensor with an intensity of the light passing through the second flow path and received by the optical sensor.